sailor

American  

[sey-ler] / ˈseɪ lər /

noun

sailors plural

1. a person whose occupation is sailing or navigation; mariner.

   Synonyms:

   seafarer

   Antonyms:

   landlubber

2. a seaman below the rank of officer.

3. a naval enlistee.

4. a person adept at sailing, especially with reference to freedom from seasickness.

   He was such a bad sailor that he always traveled to Europe by plane.

5. a flat-brimmed straw hat with a low, flat crown.

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sailor British  

/ ˈseɪlə /

noun

1. any member of a ship's crew, esp one below the rank of officer

2. a person who sails, esp with reference to the likelihood of his becoming seasick

   a good sailor

3. short for sailor hat sailor suit

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Synonym Usage

Sailor, mariner, salt, seaman, tar are terms for a person who leads a seafaring life. A sailor or seaman is one whose occupation is on board a ship at sea, especially a member of a ship's crew below the rank of petty officer: a sailor before the mast; an able-bodied seaman. Mariner is a term now found only in certain technical expressions: master mariner (captain in merchant service); mariner's compass (ordinary compass as used on ships); formerly used much as “sailor” or “seafaring man,” now the word seems elevated or quaint: Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Salt and tar are informal terms for old and experienced sailors: an old salt; a jolly tar.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsailor
  noun
• sailorlike
  adjective
• sailorly
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sailors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sailor

First recorded in 1540–50; earlier sailer; see sail, -or ²

Explanation

A sailor is someone who works on a boat or ship — either for fun, a job, or while serving in the navy. If you want to be a sailor, it's good to start by learning to swim. If you work on a cargo ship or help to pilot a schooner in the summer, you can call yourself a sailor. You're also a sailor if you learn how to sail a small boat around a lake. Even though the boats that sailors work on don't necessarily have sails, that's where the word comes from — the verb sail. Before sailor was coined in the 15th century, people used mariner and seaman.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sailor sailors

John F. Kennedy was a sailor and "the second most good-looking president," Trump said, leaving unsaid who is the first.

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

It was a boat ride for the history books, with nary a sailor in sight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

"It is really strange that everything looks normal outside, but people inside are not calm," says the Pakistani sailor, who doesn't want to use his real name.

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026

That blaze was sparked by the flare of a stranded sailor on Friday and had scorched nearly 17,000 acres by Tuesday afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

A young sailor named Percy Blackborrow was hiding in a locker, aided by William Bakewell, another young seaman.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

The United States and its allies condemned on Tuesday China's "dangerous" behaviour after a clash the previous day between Chinese and Philippine sailors in the disputed South China Sea, a crucial route for global trade.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

Never mind that Argentina learned the game from English sailors, or that the two countries haven’t met in competition in 24 years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Indian sailors shaken by war have finally cleared the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded there for months, but some fear they have little choice but to return to make a living.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

“On behalf of the Marines and sailors of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Lance Cpl. Ortiz Canseco,” Col.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

As the sailors lifted the shrouded body for the third time, it trembled.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• boater
• cadet
• diver
• marine
• pilot